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Health & Fitness

A Pinafore With Shoulder Ruffles

Mixed-media artists love ephemera! Here's one of my all-time favorite estate sale finds.

I’m drawn to the odd corners of estate sales, those rooms that most other people pass by. The dens stacked with old tattered books and papers, or hobby rooms filled with half-finished projects. I hit a gold mine at one, and spent a fascinated hour looking through piles of old sewing patterns, half-filled button cards, snaps and straps and so much more! 

Imagine, the “Fashion Service” Company of San Francisco would mail you the latest patterns. Judging by the 1.5 cent Martha Washington stamp and pre-canceled envelope with the phrase “Sec. 562, P. L. & R.”, the pattern was mailed sometime in the 1930s or 40s.

The back of the envelope gives a glimpse of other patterns you could order, from a fetching bathing suit to a variety of skirts and dresses.

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The pattern in this envelope was for a pinafore (don’t hear that word much these days), which you could make either with or without shoulder ruffles.

Next time – the art of vintage button cards! What items do you make a beeline for at garage sales?

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